Abstract
Coronavirus infection caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus has claimed the lives of 8.4% of the world's population. Despite the officially declared end of the pandemic, the consequences of the disease do not allow us to talk about a complete recovery of patients and raise serious concerns. Post-COVID effects are manifested by more than 200 symptoms and are often associated with vascular damage. We noted an increase in the frequency of severe and critical stenosis of the brachiocephalic arteries (BCA) in patients who had COVID-19. The aim of the study: to analyze the acute and late effects of coronavirus infection on the human cardiovascular system, the mechanisms of their occurrence and their relationship with occlusive-stenotic lesions of the BCA in the post-COVID period. The SARS-Cov-2 virus penetrates target cells (mainly epithelial), binding via the protein S to the angotensin-converting enzyme on their surface. Infection with the virus leads to the development of an excessive and uncontrolled immune response – a cytokine storm, disrupts hemostasis, increasing coagulation activity. As a result, patients in the acute period of the disease develop systemic disorders (DIC-syndrome, acute respiratory distress syndrome, multiple organ failure). From the cardiovascular system, there is an increased risk of thromboembolism, myocardial damage, symptoms of premature aging of blood vessels (increased arterial stiffness, endothelial dysfunction, proinflammatory activity of the endothelium and progression of lipid disorders). In the post-COVID period, there are disturbances in central and local hemodynamics, symptoms of cerebrovascular pathology (cognitive impairment, vestibulo-ataxic disorders, pyramidal insufficiency, increased risk of arterial and venous thromboembolism, stroke and heart attack). COVID-mediated damage to the brachiocephalic arteries is a multifactorial process that includes the direct effect of the virus on the vascular endothelium, the influence of systemic inflammation, impaired hemostasis, and the effects of concomitant diseases. These factors can interact with each other, worsening the condition of patients and increasing the risk of acute vascular complications. The scheme of the development of occlusive-stenotic damage to the brachiocephalic arteries due to coronavirus infection is presented.
Keywords: brachiocephalic arteries, coronavirus infection, neurological post-covid syndrome, occlusion, vascular damage, stenosis, SARS-CoV-2.
For citation:Lushchik A.L., Kalaeva E.A., Kalaev V.N., Zhukova N.G. Occlusive-stenotic lesion of the brachiocephalic arteries mediated by previous COVID-19: etiology, pathogenesis and consequences (review). Clinical review for general practice. 2026; 7 (6): 89–93 (In Russ.). DOI: 10.47407/kr2026.7.06.00p4568
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